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2018-08-20 13:13:27

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08/20/18

08/20

13:13

08/20/18

13:13

Facebook, NYU School of Medicine launch research collaboration to improve MRI

Facebook and NYU School of Medicine's Department of Radiology announced fastMRI, a new collaborative research project that will investigate the use of artificial intelligence to make magnetic resonance imaging scans up to 10 times faster. If this effort is successful, it will make MRI technology available to more people, expanding access to this key diagnostic tool. This project will initially focus on changing how MRI machines operate. Currently, scanners work by gathering raw numerical data in a series of sequential views and turning the data into cross-sectional images of internal body structures that doctors then use to evaluate a patient's health. The larger the data set to be gathered, the longer the scan will take. Though this project will initially focus on MRI technology, its long-term impact could extend to many other medical imaging applications. For example, the improvements afforded by AI have the potential to revolutionize CT scans as well. Advanced image reconstruction might enable ultra-low-dose CT scans suitable for vulnerable populations, such as pediatric patients. Such improvements would not only help transform the experience and effectiveness of medical imaging, but they'd also help equalize access to an indispensable element of medical care. Reference Link

Pivotal Research analyst Brian Wieser noted that a lawsuit was filed on Wednesday by one of Facebook's small business advertisers that alleges, citing anonymous former employees, that "those who were responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the Potential Reach at Facebook were indifferent to the actual numbers." He also noted that the United Nations has "accused Facebook of playing a determining role in stirring up hatred against the Rohingya Muslim minority in Rakhine State" of Burma. Both the lawsuit related to Ads Manager reach data and the recent reporting on how Facebook ignored concerns related to its role in the problems in Burma "further illustrate systemic problems with the company," contends Wieser, who keeps a $140 price target and Sell rating on Facebook shares.

08/09/18

STFL

08/09/18DOWNGRADETarget $2150STFLHold

Booking Holdings downgraded to Hold on slowing growth at Stifel

As previously reported, Stifel analyst Scott Devitt downgraded Booking Holdings (BKNG) to Hold from Buy, citing the slowing growth at the company-formerly-known-as Priceline. Devitt lowered his core bookings growth expectations in 2018 and beyond following the company's Q2 earnings report and cut his price target on Booking shares to $2,150 from $2,332. He sees better large cap opportunities at company's with similar earnings multiples and better growth, such as Alibaba (BABA), Alphabet (GOOGL) and Facebook (FB), Devitt added.

08/09/18

BMOC

08/09/18NO CHANGETarget $52BMOCOutperform

Match Group price target raised to $52 from $45 at BMO Capital

BMO Capital analyst Daniel Salmon raised his price target on Match Group (MTCH) to $52 after its Q2 earnings beat and raised FY18 guidance, saying its Tinder platform continues to exceed expectations while the rest of the portfolio shows stability. Salmon adds that Tinder's subscription growth and pricing power position Match Group as a "sustainable long-term" story within the expanding total addressable market, even as the entry of Facebook (FB) into the online dating industry gets closes. The analyst keeps his Outperform rating on Match Group.

Craig-Hallum analyst Richard Shannon raised his price target for Applied Optoelectronics (AAOI) to $28 from $20 following a "strong" Q2 result, driven by strong upside from Data Center, specifically Facebook (FB). The analyst thinks most of the upside was from lack of supply from a competitor he believes to be Intel (INTC). He reiterates a Sell rating on Applied Optoelectronics shares.

According to a regulatory filing, Ryan Graves informed Uber Technologies of his intention to resign as a member of the company's board of directors, effective as of May 27, 2019, including any committees of the board of directors on which he serves. Graves' resignation was not the result of any disagreement between Graves and the company, its management, board of directors or any committee thereof, or with respect to any matter relating to the company's operations, policies or practices, according to the filing.

U.S. Energy announced that on May 21, Nasdaq notified the company that as a result of not having received its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31. 2019, and because the company is delinquent in filing its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, the company does not comply with the requirements of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1) for continued listing on the Exchange. This notification has no effect on the listing of the company's common stock at this time. However, pursuant to the notice, the company was required to submit a plan by May 23, 2019 to comply with the Exchange's requirements for continued listing.

Apple is being sued by customers alleging that the U.S. tech giant is unlawfully disclosing and selling information about users' iTunes purchases as well as their personal data, Bloomberg's Robert Burnson reports. The customers claim that such alleged practices are contrary to Apple's promise in advertising that "What happens on your iPhone stays on your iPhone," Burnson notes. Reference Link

SuperCom received a notification from Nasdaq for not having timely filed its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2018, as previously disclosed by the company on May 16, 2019. The company does not comply with the Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1). This notice from Nasdaq has no effect currently on the listing of the company's common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market.

U.S. Energy announced that Nasdaq notified the company that as a result of not having received the company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31 and because the company is delinquent in filing its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, the company does not comply with the requirements of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250 for continued listing on the exchange. This notification has no effect on the listing of the company's common stock at this time. However, pursuant to the notice, the company was required to submit a plan by May 23 to comply with the exchange's requirements for continued listing. The company has submitted the plan to the exchange. If the exchange accepts the company's Plan, the exchange may grant an exception of up to 180 calendar days from the Form 10-K's due date, or until October 14 to regain compliance. The company continues to work toward the filing of the Form 10-Q and the Form 10-K with the SEC as soon as practicable.

Qiagen (QGEN) announced the launch of its therascreen PIK3CA RGQ PCR Kit after it received U.S. regulatory approval as a companion diagnostic to aid in identifying breast cancer patients eligible for treatment with PIQRAY, a newly approved therapy developed and marketed by Novartis (NVS). The therascreen PIK3CA Kit is the first companion diagnostic assay to obtain premarket approval from the FDA for use in any cancer indication for detection of activating mutations in the PIK3CA gene. It is also the first FDA approved assay for guiding treatment decisions in breast cancer using plasma specimens as a liquid biopsy.

Brazil's ANAC said it has suspended all flights and operations of Avianca Brasil in the South American nation as a precuartionary measure, Reuters reports. The move follows Avianca's filing for bankruptcy in late 2018, the report says. "All the flights are suspended until the company proves it has the capacity to maintain operations safely," ANAC said. Reference Link

Apple has bought Tueo Health, a start-up that was making a system to help parents monitor asthma symptoms in sleeping kids, CNBC's Christina Farr and Steve Kovach report, citing a person familiar with the deal. It is not clear how much the U.S. tech giant paid for the start-up, the authors note. Reference Link

A review of Boeing's grounded 737 MAX aircraft has expanded to include emergency procedures used by pilots on earlier models of the plane, further delaying its return to service, the Wall Street Journal's Andy Pasztor reports, citing U.S. government officials. The FAA hasn't questioned the safety of older aircraft currently in service, but the broadened review will play a major role in adding months to the time expected to get the grounded fleet of 737 MAX jets back in the skies, Pasztor notes. As part of the FAA's safety analysis of a proposed software fix for the fleet, the agency is also weighing changes to how pilots of the entire 737 family are trained to respond when the flight-control computer or other systems suddenly push the jet's nose down, the author says. Reference Link

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), the SPX option derived measure of implied volatility, fell 1.07 today to close at 15.85, while the underlying SPX index gained 3.82 to close at $2826.06, a 0.14% increase. 274,267 VIX option contracts traded, 38.73% of the typical daily volume for the product. Calls made up 74.0% of the volume.

Volume was average for this time of day. Breadth was mixed with issues and volume bullish while new highs to new lows were bearish (negative divergence). Advancing Issues: 2009 / Declining Issues: 1048 -- for a ratio of 1.9 to 1. Advancing Volume: 915,942,000 / Declining Volume: 681,710,000 -- for a ratio of 1.3 to 1. New 52-Week Highs: 57 / New 52-Week Lows: 114.

Volume was below average for this time of day. Breadth was bullish across the board. Advancing Issues: 1963 / Declining Issues: 956 -- for a ratio of 2.1 to 1. Advancing Volume: 1,549,354,000 / Declining Volume: 986,891,000 -- for a ratio of 1.6 to 1. New 52-Week Highs: 138 / New 52-Week Lows: 89.

Regional Health Properties, Inc. announcement concerning the company's noncompliance with the continued listing standards of NYSE American LLC. On May 21, 2019, the company received an official notice of noncompliance from the Exchange stating that the company is not in compliance with the Exchange's continued listing standards under the timely filing criteria outlined in Section 1007 of the Exchange's company Guide because the company failed to timely file its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2019, which was due to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission no later than May 20, 2019. For the reasons previously disclosed in its Form 12b-25 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 16, 2019, the company has not timely filed the Delayed Form 10-Q because additional time is needed to finalize the Delayed Form 10-Q and furnish the XBRL Interactive Data File exhibits required by Item 601b101 of Regulation S-K. The company is actively working to complete the Delayed Form 10-Q and intends to file the Delayed Form 10-Q under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, within the next thirty days. As a result of the foregoing, the company has become subject to the procedures and requirements of Section 1007 of the Company Guide. During the six-month period from the date of the Filing Delinquency, the Exchange will monitor the company and the status of the Delayed Form 10-Q and any subsequent reports until the Filing Delinquency is cured. If the company fails to cure the Filing Delinquency within the Initial Cure Period, the Exchange may, in its sole discretion, allow the company's securities to be traded for up to an additional six-month period, depending on the company's specific circumstances. If the Exchange determines that an Additional Cure Period is not appropriate, suspension and delisting procedures will commence in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 1010 of the Company Guide.